The Hitman and Ramen Girl.

The soft rustle of the blanket on the couch was the only sound that filled the room. Hana had gone to her bedroom, leaving Ryo alone in the dim light of the living room. He shifted slightly, trying to make himself comfortable, but sleep eluded him. His mind was too occupied, tangled in thoughts he couldn't untangle.

He stared at the ceiling, the stillness of the night pressing against him. He should leave. That was what he always did—slip away before things could get complicated. But tonight, something kept him here. Something about Hana's warmth, her kindness, had woven itself around him like a gentle thread. It was a feeling he hadn't allowed himself to experience in years, not since…

A soft knock on the doorframe broke his reverie.

He turned his head to see Hana standing there, her expression soft and uncertain. "Ryo?" Her voice was a whisper, as though she were afraid to disturb the fragile peace they'd shared.

Ryo straightened up, trying to compose himself. "Yes?"

Hana hesitated before stepping closer, her gaze uncertain. "I… I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable earlier. With all the questions about your work and everything…"

Ryo remained silent, unsure of how to respond. There was a weight in his chest, a heaviness that had settled there since their conversation began. He had never wanted to burden her with the truth, not when everything about her life was so simple, so innocent.

"I just…" Hana bit her lip, glancing down at the floor. "I want to know more about you, Ryo. I don't want you to feel like you have to hide from me."

Ryo felt a tightness in his throat. Her words, her sincerity, made something stir inside him—something that terrified him. He didn't deserve her kindness. He didn't belong in her world. His life was too dangerous, too messy for someone like Hana to even dream of being a part of.

But tonight… tonight, he couldn't ignore the pull. He couldn't shake the idea that, for some strange reason, Hana cared.

He stood up slowly, his tall frame casting a long shadow in the room. He took a step toward her, his expression unreadable. "Hana," he said softly, his voice betraying an emotion he rarely allowed to surface. "There's a lot I can't tell you. A lot I never want you to know."

Hana's eyes widened, but she didn't step back. Instead, she looked at him, a gentle but resolute expression on her face. "I don't need to know everything. I just… I just want you to be honest with me."

Her words hung In the air, like a quiet invitation. Ryo felt his heart race. He hadn't expected this. He hadn't expected her to care so deeply, to see beyond the cold exterior he had so carefully built.

He looked away, running a hand through his hair. "It's not that simple."

Hana took another step closer, closing the distance between them. "I'm not asking you to change. I just want you to feel like you don't have to carry all of it alone."

Ryo's breath caught in his throat. For a moment, the room seemed to close in around them. The silence was deafening, filled with unspoken emotions, unresolved fears, and a longing Ryo wasn't ready to confront.

But Hana was still standing there, her presence gentle yet unyielding, like a beacon in the darkness he had created for himself.

He exhaled slowly, finally meeting her gaze. "I've done things… things I can't undo. I'm not the kind of person you think I am."

Hana reached out, her hand brushing against his arm. Her touch was warm, comforting, and it sent a shiver down his spine. "Ryo," she said softly, "I don't care about your past. I care about who you are now. And right now, you're here with me."

Her words were simple, but they carried a weight that Ryo wasn't sure he was ready to carry. His heart pounded in his chest, and for the first time in years, he allowed himself to feel something other than the weight of his own secrets. He swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't deserve you, Hana." "You're wrong," she replied firmly. "You're more than you think you are."

Ryo closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of her words seep into his very bones. He wasn't sure what to do with the emotions swirling inside him, but for the first time, he wasn't afraid of them. He didn't know how long this moment would last, or if he would ever have the courage to be completely honest with her, but for now, he allowed himself to stay.

"Thank you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. Hana smiled, the kind of smile that made his heart ache in the best way possible. "You don't have to thank me. Just… stay."

And so, in the quiet of the night, Ryo Kobayashi did something he had never done before—he stayed. He let the silence wash over him, but this time, it wasn't filled with loneliness. It was filled with a quiet sense of belonging. For the first time in years, he felt like he was home.